← Certificate III qualifications
Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician
UEE - Electrotechnology
Formal apprenticeship outcome for licensed electrical work in Australia. Required for state Electrical Contractor and A-Grade licensing.
Entry requirements
- Signed apprenticeship contract
- Year 10 or equivalent
What you will learn
The UEE30820 covers the safe installation, testing and maintenance of low-voltage electrical equipment in residential, commercial and light industrial settings. Core units include applying AS/NZS 3000 wiring rules, switchboard wiring, lighting and power circuit installation, cable selection and protection, testing with multimeters and clamp meters, and fault-finding on single and three-phase systems. You work towards the Capstone Assessment in your final year, a written and practical exam set by the Electrical Regulatory Authorities Council (ERAC) that gates eligibility for a state electrical licence. Over four years you complete around 600 hours of classroom training across blocks at TAFE plus roughly 7,000 to 8,000 hours of on-job training under a licensed electrician.
Skills you build
- Reading construction drawings and AS/NZS 3000 wiring rules
- Cable selection, sizing and pulling
- Switchboard termination and circuit isolation
- Safe testing and tagging of portable appliances
- Multimeter and clamp-meter fault-finding
- Writing Certificates of Compliance for Electrical Work
- Customer service, quoting and time management on site
How the course runs
Most apprentices attend TAFE in one to two week blocks each term (block release), with the remaining time on-job under a licensed electrician. Some RTOs run day-release one day per week. Total formal TAFE contact is around 600 hours over the four years. Theory and practical split roughly 60/40 across the formal units, but day-to-day on-job work is almost entirely hands-on. The final-year Capstone Assessment is the gating exam, with both a written and a practical component set under ERAC rules.
How you will be assessed
- Practical demonstrations in TAFE workshops
- Written knowledge tests for each unit of competency
- Third-party log book signed by your supervising electrician
- On-job evidence portfolios reviewed by your TAFE teacher
- Capstone Assessment, written and practical, set under ERAC rules
Workplace and placement
The whole apprenticeship is a workplace contract under the Australian Apprenticeships framework. You sign a Training Contract with an employer (direct hire or via a Group Training Organisation) before starting. The employer supervises your on-job hours, the RTO delivers the formal training. You are paid an apprentice wage rising each year, plus a tool allowance under the relevant award. Most employers also fund the cost of TAFE fees and provide paid time off for block training.
Typical employers
- Residential builders on new estates
- Commercial fit-out and data contractors
- Industrial maintenance teams in manufacturing plants
- Resources sector camps in WA Pilbara, central QLD and NT
- Local council and government maintenance teams
- Electrical contracting businesses
Pay after this qualification
$72,000 - $95,000 per year
Source: https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/explore-careers/occupation/electricians. Last reviewed 2026-05-21.
Is this the right course for you?
You probably thrive here if
- You are comfortable with Year 11 Standard maths
- You can work safely with serious consequences (electrocution risk)
- You do not mind crawling in roof spaces and under floors
- You can deal with customers in their homes politely
- You can take direction from a tradesperson and ask questions
It is probably not for you if
- You cannot commit to four years of apprentice pay
- You panic under time pressure
- You have a back or knee condition that limits crawling
- You struggle to read drawings or follow written safety procedures
After you finish
After licensing as an electrician you can pursue a Certificate IV in Electrical - Instrumentation (UEE40420) or Certificate IV in Electrical - Hazardous Areas (UEE42620) for industrial work. The Diploma of Electrical Engineering (UEE50420) opens technician roles. Bachelor of Engineering programs at UTS, RMIT, Curtin and other unis offer credit for the Cert III and put you on a three-year pathway to an Engineers Australia accredited engineering degree.